Nelson Strang Sorry, Marty. I know you're a filmmaking God and you've made some of my favourite films, but you've really messed up here. Looks great, well acted, but just SO dull to watch. It actually took me 6 sittings before I managed to get through this. Just not worth your time. Avoid.

tmpsvita In 2016 Martin Scorsese produces, writes and directs a film that was completely snubbed by both the public at the box office and the Academy Awards, despite the discrete criticism it has received. Silence cost 46 million dollars and earns only 7 at the American box office, a film that certainly deserved greater consideration but the duration of 2 hours and 40 certainly did not favor it. A really long time for a film with a very challenging plot, taken from the novel of the same name, which is however managed impeccably, so much so that time runs without this being felt, thanks to a great atmosphere that makes immediate the immersion in the film by the viewer. Of course the plot, and it can be seen even just seeing the dimensions of the book from which it is taken, is very diluted but this does not affect at all because in the most static moments, silent or anyway in which the story suffers a slight arrest, the viewer can enjoy the magnificent artistic component that makes "Silence" a real painting to be admired constantly. Thanks to a cinematography that is able to cleverly exploit the light and colors that enhance the fascinating and evocative scenographies that are the background to a story that otherwise could have been uninteresting. Admirable Scorsese's ability to make the whole film a great testimony of the Christian Church accessible and appreciable even by those who, like the undersigned, do not share its ideals but nevertheless can not remain charmed, almost envious, for the protagonists of the story paintings with great respect and admiration by the director himself. A directing from a technical point of view that is simply perfect, with intelligent camera angles and movements and extremely functional long shots, but what is missing is a greater thrust on emotions and feelings that are represented but that can not pierce the screen, probably also because of the script, obviously pretentious and introspective (positive aspects for this type of film), but that fails to excite as much as a story like this could have done, perhaps even for some slightly predictable steps and some redundancies avoidable. This is also due to the somewhat restrained interpretations, almost detached by Adam Driver, which I found subdued, and by Liam Neeson who could have given much more. While Andrew Garfield confirms his great talent again giving body and soul to a role that is anything but simple to interpret.

Neil Welch Two young Jesuit priests, Rodrigues and Garrpe. secretly arrive in Japan on the very cold trail of Father Ferreira. Japan has been seeking to abolish Christianity by way of mass executions, but there are still pockets of secret Christians. Father Ferreira, it is rumoured, has denied his faith and turned native Japanese - could this deeply disturbing suggestion be true, or is it just a rumour to serve Japanese political ends?I have never before seen a film with the word "apostatised" used once, let alone the number of times it is used in this film. But since apostasy is at the heart of the matter, I suppose that is fair enough.Martin Scorsese sets out to dramatise a true(ish) episode towards the end of the Jesuit priesthood's attempted conversion of Japan, at the point where the Japanese establishment is taking a hard line to stamp it out, and the main method they are using is barbaric physical punishment of the native Christian population as pressure to force the priesthood into publicly denying their faith. This is solid drama material, but Scorsese fails to make a satisfying film of it: large sections are boring and repetitive as the two young priests, admirably played by Andrew Garfield and Adam Driver, beat themselves up endlessly about how horrible it all is (and, to be fair, they are right) and how God isn't listening to them. The Almighty does chip in a few words towards the end, but they are not terribly helpful.The dramatisation could have been better. The Japanese character Kichijiro repeatedly denies his faith then seeks confession and forgiveness, to the extent that Rodrigues quietly loses any sympathy for him. I kept waiting for this to have a dramatic payoff, but it never did.In fact, for a film which ran for nearly 3 hours, the dramatic heart could have been condensed into half the running time: as it was, I felt nearly as punished as the two priests.The barbarity of punishment is shown but, thankfully, not dwelled upon. But we really didn't need as much footage of the two priests in a bamboo hut with dirty fingernails, bemoaning their lot, as we got. There is a good film in here somewhere, but it badly needed to shed some weight before it went out in public.

robertpoljak There are two ways to review this movie:1. Cinematografic POV: The film is quite long so there are scenes that are "little boring" or repeating. Acting is quite good but I got the feeling that it could be beter or maybe more emphasized. Photography and scenes are great, real, but not spectacular. Rating 72. Plot/Story POV: maybe all of the "negative" impressions stated in above comment were intended so that the focus would be on the story! It happened to me while watching the movie that when I thought the scene was "boring", too long, repeating, not spectacular .. that immediatelly made me change the focus on the whole story - you are constantly forced to think about the meaning of the religion, existence, beliefs,.... And this is great!! It is very powerful and meaningful movie so don't be mislead by those who just watch movies for entertainment and give bad reviews. Sometimes we have to consider that the movie does not have to be great from all points of view to be excellent.... Rating: 9Btw, I am an atheist and from my point of view it made me even more convinced about my feelings. I think that some religions has provoked too much damage in the history of the humanity, it has lost its true nature and it is misused.But nevertheless, i enjoyed the movie and I sincerelly respect Scorsese for his effort and also for his beliefs!